The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-25
MEETING PROCLAIMED.
The Police Make Descent the Stand and
Disnerse the Meeting.

DUBLIN, October 23.-Placards were posted
in Woodford, county Galway, this morning
summcning an indignation meeting under
the auspices of the British home rule union.
Sir Wilfred Blunt, the well known philan-
thropist and the benefactor of Arab Pasha,
who was formerly a conservative but is now
home ruler, was announced to preside, sup
ported by Mr.. Rowland and other English
proclaimed by the government and
reinforcement of police. and troops
arrived in the morning and pa
raded the streets. Thousands of persons
t1oeked into town. A platform was erected in
field behind the main street. When the
speaker mounted the platform, Divisional
Magistrate Byne forbade Blunt to hold the
meeting. Blunt defied the magistrate, and the
police were ordered to clear the platform Sew
eral policemen seized Blunt, and although he
violently resisted, threw him from the plat
form. Blunt returned to the platform and was
again thrown off. Then, pale and breathless,
he shouted:
care you such damned towards that you
dare not arrest me?'
The district inspector replied:
81 arrest you"
BLUNT was then seized and marched off ur.-
der escort, his wife following. The police
charged upon the crowd that followed, and
injured many persons. Mr.. Rowland asked for
three cheers for Blunt, which were given
heartily. The crowd was kept back by the
FUsileers. Blunt was brought before magis-
trate and on refusing to promise to refrain
from participating in other meetings. he was
retained in custody. Blunt and another pris-
oner were conveyed to Longhrea Jail this
evening
During the row Constable Connor refused to
obey the order to charge the crowd, and threw
down his baton. He was arrested.
Two meetings were afterward held on the
outskirts of town, at which the arrest of Blunt
was denounced.
This morning, before the meeting, Blunt
handedE to NJ agistrate SBryne a written pro-
test against the governments action in pro-
claiming the meeting Later Inspector Muir
ply visited Blunt and informed him that no
meeting would be allowed
Blunt when asked whether he would give
bail, replied that as an Englishman, he be-
Ieved that the whole action of the police was
illegal, and that he would rather be impris-
oned than give pledge to the representatives
of the tory government.
After the struggle on the platform Lady
Blunt tainted and lay on the grass unconscious
for some time. Mrs. Rowland and several re-
porters also suffered in the scufile. Rev. Mr..
Pagan was arrested, but was afterward re-
leased. Mr.. Roche, poor law guardian, was
arrested for assaulting the police Lady Blunt
chung to her husbands arm and refused to
leave him.
Sir Wilfred Blunt's letter to Magistrate
Byne, guaranteed moderate languarge on the
part of the speakers. He warned the magis-
trate that he would hold him responsible if he
thirty persons were more or less seriously in
jured at Woodford. The feeling against the
police runs very high. 1t is stated that in
many instances they had recourse to unneces-
sary brutality.
The news of the arrest of Wilfred Blunt
caused the greatest excitement in Dublin. A
feeling of intense qualification prevails among
the nationalists. MIR. Harrington tonight said
that he did not believe Mr.. Blunt would be de-
tanned or prosecuted, "but," he added, sit will
do good, and 1 should not wonder if we hear
more OF it," Mr.. William O'Brien was pay
ing a visit to Mr.. Dillon
when the news of Mr.. Blunts
arrest arrived Both gentlemen expressed
great concern for the personal inconvenience
to which Mr.. Blunt would be subjected, but
could not conceal their qualification at the turn
events had taken. Interest was intensified
when it became known that the telegraph
wires between Portumna and Woodford had
been cut, and service suspended for several
hours. The greatest activity prevailed at Dub
lin castle, communications being constantly
sent and received.
The attempt to evict the Widow Foley at
Bally Kerogne, was resumed later on Satur-
day, when the defenders of the house were ar
rested by the police.